Performing social networking functions using matrix codes

ABSTRACT

A matrix code reader may detect a matrix code, which may be displayed along with content and include information identifying the content. The matrix code reader may obtain user information associated with a social networking service and, based at least on the content information and the user information, may transmit an instruction to the social networking service to perform a social networking service function. The matrix code reader may obtain the user information and/or the instruction to perform the social networking service function from information included in the matrix code, from a non-transitory storage medium of the matrix code reader, from a user, and so on. In some implementations, the matrix code reader may determine that additional information or a confirmation to transmit the instructions is needed and may prompt a user for the additional information or confirmation.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/673,480, filed Nov. 9, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,554, entitled“PERFORMING SOCIAL NETWORKING FUNCTIONS USING MATRIX CODES,” which is acontinuation of PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/064709, filed Dec. 13,2011, entitled “PERFORMING SOCIAL NETWORKING FUNCTIONS USING MATRIXCODES,” which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/986,721, filed Jan. 7, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,292,166, entitled“PERFORMING SOCIAL NETWORKING FUNCTIONS USING MATRIX CODES,” theentirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all intentsand purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to social networking, and morespecifically to performing social network functions in response todetected matrix codes.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses systems and methods for performingsocial networking service functions utilizing matrix codes. A matrixcode reader may detect a matrix code, which may be displayed along withan instance of content and include information identifying the instanceof content. The matrix code reader may obtain user informationassociated with a social networking service and, based at least on theinformation identifying the instance of content and the userinformation, the matrix code reader may transmit an instruction to thesocial networking service to perform a social networking servicefunction. The social networking function that the social networkingservice is instructed to perform may be any kind of function supportedby the social networking service such as posting one or more statusupdates regarding the instance of content, posting one or more commentsregarding the instance of content, scheduling one or more eventsassociated with the instance of content, posting at least one review ofthe at least one instance of content, submitting a request to join agroup associated with the at least one instance of content, and so on.

The matrix code reader may obtain the user information and/or theinstruction to perform the social networking service function frominformation included in the matrix code, from a non-transitory storagemedium of the matrix code reader, from a user, and so on. If the matrixcode reader obtains the user information and/or the instruction toperform the social networking service function from information includedin the matrix code or the non-transitory storage medium, the matrix codereader may determine that additional information is needed. In suchcases, the processing unit may prompt a user for the additionalinformation and receive such additional information in response to theprompt. Even in situations where the matrix code reader does notdetermine that additional information is required, the matrix codereader may prompt a user before transmitting the instruction to thesocial networking service in order to confirm that the user desires theinstruction to be transmitted.

In one or more implementations, the social networking service may be anindependent service provider entity such as Facebook™, MySpace™,Twitter™, and so on. In other implementations, the social networkingservice may be software and/or hardware tools that are not part of anindependent service provider entity which users set up to function associal networking services such as calendaring programs, mass email ortext message lists, and so on.

In some implementations, information indicating that and instruction toperform one or more social networking service functions may be includedin the matrix code and the matrix code reader may determine to transmitthe instruction based on such information. However, in otherimplementations, the matrix code may not include any user informationand the matrix code reader may be configured to select an instruction toperform a social networking function related to a captured matrix codeanytime a captured matrix code includes information identifying aninstance of content. Such selection may be performed by consultingdefaults or user preferences stored in a non-transitory storage mediumof the matrix code reader, by prompting a user, and so on.

In various implementations, the instance of content may be provided to adisplay device by an electronic device such as a set top box, a digitalvideo recorder, a television tuner, a content receiver, a digital videodisk player, a movie theater projection system, a home computer, and soon. The instance of content that is provided may be stored in thenon-transitory storage medium, received from a content source, and soon. In some instances, the instance of content may already include thematrix code when received by the electronic device. In other instances,however, the electronic device may generate the matrix code, modify thematrix code, add the matrix code to the instance of content, and so on.In implementations where the electronic device generates or modifies thematrix code, the electronic device may obtain the informationidentifying the content, the user information, information regarding theinstruction to perform the social networking function, and so on and mayinclude such information in the matrix code before adding the matrixcode to the instance of content.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are for purposes of example andexplanation and do not necessarily limit the present disclosure. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure.Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for performing socialnetworking service functions utilizing matrix codes.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for performing socialnetworking service functions utilizing matrix codes. This method may beperformed by the system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams illustrating a user utilizing a system toperform social networking functions by capturing matrix codes displayedon a television. The system may be the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, andcomputer program products that embody various elements of the presentdisclosure. However, it should be understood that the describeddisclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to thosedescribed herein.

Social networking services, whether independent service providerentities (such as Facebook™, MySpace™, Twitter™, and so on) or toolsthat are not part of an independent service provider entity which usersset up to function as social networking services (such as calendaringprograms, mass email or text message lists, and so on), are increasinglybecoming an integral part of how people interact with each other in themodern world. Users utilize such social networking services to maintaincontact with other users, inform other users of their thoughts andevents in their lives, inform themselves of the thoughts and life eventsof other users, and so on. Users even utilize social networking servicesto communicate with other users regarding their viewing of content (suchas movies, television programs, and so on) which may not even be relatedto the social networking service which is utilized. They may communicateto others that they are viewing the content, indicate their thoughtsregarding the content, determine who else has viewed the content,schedule events related to the content, and so on.

However, it may be inconvenient and burdensome for users to utilizesocial networking services to communicate with other social networkingservice users regarding their viewing of content while they are viewingsuch content. Frequently, users must enter information regarding thesocial networking service (such as information to access the socialnetworking service, log in information, indications of which functionsthey wish to utilize, and so on) into a device (such as a computingdevice) other than the device they are utilizing to view the content(such as a television, a movie theater screen, and so on). The amount ofinformation a user is required to enter in order to utilize the socialnetworking service may discourage the user from utilizing the socialnetworking service he otherwise desires to utilize. Further, such socialnetworking service utilization may distract the user from the user'sprimary purpose of viewing the content.

The present disclosure discloses systems and methods for performingsocial networking service functions utilizing matrix codes. A user mayutilize a matrix code reader device to detect one or more matrix codes.The matrix code may be displayed along with one or more instances ofcontent that a user is viewing and include information identifying theinstance of content. The matrix code reader device may obtain userinformation for the user that is associated with one or more socialnetworking services. Then, based at least on the information identifyingthe instance of content and the user information, the matrix code readerdevice may transmit one or more instructions to the social networkingservice to perform one or more social networking service functions.Hence, users may be able to direct the performance of social networkingservice functions related to content they are viewing without having toenter as much information and without having to distract themselves fromthe content as much as they otherwise would have. Thus, it may be moreconvenient and less burdensome for users to utilize social networkingservice functions related to content that they are viewing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system 100 for performingsocial networking service functions utilizing matrix codes. The system100 includes one or more matrix code readers 101, one or more displaydevices 102, and one or more social networking service computing devices104. The matrix code reader may be any kind of electronic device capableof detecting (or capturing) matrix codes (such as QR™ codes) such as acellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a mobile computer, apersonal digital assistant, and so on. The display device may be anykind of display device such as a movie theater screen, a television, acomputer monitor, a cathode ray tube display, a liquid crystal display,and so on.

The display device 102 may display one or more instances of content. Theinstance of content may be content such as a television program, amovie, a commercial, an instructional video, and so on. The instance ofcontent may also include one or more matrix codes (such as QR™ codes)which may include information identifying the instance of content (suchas a title, program identifier, description, and so on).

The matrix code reader 101 may include one or more processing units 106,one or more non-transitory storage media 107 (which may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storagemedium; magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random accessmemory; erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on), one ormore input/output components 108 (such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens, touch pads, displays, virtual keyboards, microphones, and soon), one or more communication components 109, and one or more opticaldetectors 110 (such as still image cameras, video cameras, barcodereaders, and so on). The processing unit may execute instructions storedin the non-transitory storage medium to detect the matrix code displayedby the display device 102. The processing unit may also executeinstructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium to obtain userinformation associated with the social networking service associatedwith the social networking service computing device 104 and transmit oneor more instructions to the social networking service computing devicevia the communication component 109 to perform one or more socialnetwork service functions based at least on the information identifyingthe instance of content and the user information.

The social networking function that the processing unit 106 instructsthe social networking service computing device 104 to perform may be anykind of function supported by the social networking service associatedwith the social networking service computing device. For example, thefunction may include posting one or more status updates regarding theinstance of content (such as a status update indicating that the user iscurrently watching the content), posting one or more comments regardingthe instance of content (such as a comment asking whether other usersare watching the instance of content), scheduling one or more eventsassociated with the instance of content (such as scheduling a party forother users to attend after the instance of content finishes), postingat least one review of the at least one instance of content (such as anin-depth review of the instance content, an indicating that the userlikes the instance of content, and so on), submitting a request to joina group associated with the at least one instance of content (such as arequest to join a fan group for the instance of content, requesting tojoin an email list for updates related to the instance of content, andso on), and so on.

In some instances, the processing unit 106 may obtain the userinformation and/or the instruction to perform the social networkingservice function from information included in the matrix code. In otherinstances, the matrix code may not include the user information and/orthe instruction to perform the social networking service function andthe processing unit may obtain the user information and/or theinstruction to perform the social networking service function frominformation stored in the non-transitory storage medium 107, such asinformation stored in one or more default settings files, informationpreviously received from a user via the input/output component 108 andstored in one or more user preference files stored in the non-transitorystorage medium, and so on. In still other instances, the processing unitmay obtain the user information and/or the instruction to perform thesocial networking service function by prompting a user for suchinformation and receiving such information from a user via theinput/output component.

In various instances where the processing unit 106 obtains the userinformation and/or the instruction to perform the social networkingservice function from information included in the matrix code or thenon-transitory storage medium 107, the processing unit may determinethat additional information is needed in order to transmit theinstruction to the social networking service computing device 104. Insuch cases, the processing unit may prompt a user for the additionalinformation and receive such additional information in response to theprompt via the input/output component 108. For example, the userinformation may specify a network address for the social networkingservice computing device and to post a comment regarding the instance ofcontent, but may not include the comment itself. As such, the processingunit may prompt a user for a comment regarding the instance of contentand may transmit an instruction to post the comment after the comment isreceived from the prompted user.

Even in situations where the processing unit 106 obtains the userinformation and/or the instruction to perform the social networkingservice function from information included in the matrix code or thenon-transitory storage medium 107 and does not determine that additionalinformation is required, the processing unit may prompt a user via theinput/output components 108 before transmitting the instruction to thesocial networking service computing device 104. For example, the userinformation may specify a network address for the social networkingservice computing device and to post a status update that a user iswatching the instance of content, but the processing unit may prompt theuser to confirm that he wishes the status update to be posted. Theprocessing unit may then transmit the instruction to post the statusupdate when the confirmation is received from the prompted user.

In some implementations, information indicating that and instruction toperform one or more social networking service functions may be includedin the matrix code and the matrix code reader 101 may determine totransmit the instruction based on such information. However, in otherimplementations, the matrix code may not include any user informationand the matrix code reader may be configured to select an instruction toperform a social networking function related to a captured matrix codeanytime a captured matrix code includes information identifying aninstance of content. Such selection may be performed by consultingdefaults or user preferences stored in the non-transitory storage medium107, by prompting a user via the input/output components 108, and so on.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 for performing social networking servicefunctions utilizing matrix codes. The method 200 may be performed by theelectronic device 101 of FIG. 1. The flow begins at block 201 andproceeds to block 202 where the matrix code reader 101 operates. Theflow then proceeds to block 203 where the processing unit 106 determineswhether or not the optical detector 110 detects a matrix code thatincludes information specifying the content with which the matrix codeis included. If so, the flow proceeds to block 204. Otherwise, the flowreturns to block 202 where the matrix code reader continues to operate.

At block 204, after the optical detector 110 detects a matrix code thatincludes information specifying the content with which the matrix codeis included, the processing unit 106 decodes the matrix code. The flowthen proceeds to block 205 where the processing unit determines whetheror not the matrix code includes user information related to a socialnetworking service. If not, the flow proceeds to block 207. Otherwise,the flow proceeds to block 206.

At block 206, after the processing unit 106 determines that userinformation related to the social networking service is included in thematrix code, the processing unit transmits an instruction to perform asocial network function based on the information specifying the instanceof content and the user information to the social networking servicecomputing device 104 that is associated with the social networkingservice. The flow then returns to block 202 where the matrix code reader101 continues to operate.

At block 207, after the processing unit 106 determines that userinformation related to the social networking service is not included inthe matrix code, the processing unit determines whether the userinformation is stored in the non-transitory storage medium 107 of thematrix code reader 101. If so, the flow proceeds to block 208 where theprocessing unit retrieves the information before the flow proceeds toblock 206. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to block 209.

At block 209, after the processing unit 106 determines the userinformation is not stored in the non-transitory storage medium 107 ofthe matrix code reader 101, the processing unit prompts a user for theuser information via the input/output components 108 and the flowproceeds to block 210. At block 210, the processing unit receives theuser information from the prompted user via the input/output componentsand then the flow proceeds to block 206.

Although the method 200 illustrates and describes the matrix code reader101 decoding the matrix code and transmitting the instruction directlyto the social networking service computing device 104, othercontemplated arrangements are possible without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure. Returning to FIG. 1, in some implementations,the system 100 may include a matrix code computing device 115 which thematrix code reader 101 may interact with via the communication component109 to decode the matrix code, transmit instructions to the socialnetworking service computing device 104, and so on.

In various implementations, the instance of content may be provided tothe display device 102 by an electronic device 103. The electronicdevice may be any electronic device such as a set top box, a digitalvideo recorder, a television tuner, a content receiver, a digital videodisk player, a movie theater projection system, a home computer, and soon. The electronic device may include one or more processing units 111which execute instructions stored in one or more non-transitory storagemedia 112 to provide the instance of content to the display device viathe output component 113. The instance of content that is provided maybe stored in the non-transitory storage medium, received from a contentsource 105 (such as a cable or satellite television provider, a video ondemand provider, a digital video disk physical distribution network, andso on), and so on.

In some instances, the instance of content may already include thematrix code when received by the electronic device 103. In otherinstances, however, the electronic device may generate the matrix code,modify the matrix code, add the matrix code to the instance of content,and so on. In implementations where the electronic device generates ormodifies the matrix code, the electronic device may obtain theinformation identifying the content, the user information, informationregarding the instruction to perform the social networking function, andso on (such as from the non-transitory storage medium, via thecommunication component 114, from a user, and so on) and may includesuch information in the matrix code before adding the matrix code to theinstance of content.

While the social networking computing device 104 and the associatedsocial networking service is illustrated and described above as anindependent service provider entity such as Facebook™, MySpace™,Twitter™, and so on, other contemplated arrangements are possiblewithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In variousimplementations, the described social networking service may includesoftware and/or hardware tools that are not part of an independentservice provider entity which users set up to function as socialnetworking services. Such tools may include as calendaring programs,mass email or text message lists, and so on. As such, in thoseimplementations the social networking service computing device 104 maybe a computing device that is configured to support the software and/orhardware tools which the user configures to function as socialnetworking services.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a user 302A-302D utilizing a system to performsocial networking functions by capturing matrix codes 308B-308Ddisplayed on a television 304A-304D. The system may be the system 100 ofFIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the user 302A is watching Movie XYZwhich is displayed on a television screen 305A of the television 304A.Also as illustrated, the user 302A has a smart phone 301A and a desktopcomputer 306A which is displaying a social networking service web siteon a monitor screen 307A.

In FIG. 3B, the television 304B displays a matrix code 308B along withMovie XYZ on the television screen 305B. The matrix code 308B includesinformation specifying that the content displayed on the televisionscreen 305B is Movie XYZ. Additionally, the matrix code 308B includesuser information that specifies a network address for the socialnetworking service web site displayed on the monitor screen 307B, log ininformation associated with the social networking service web sitedisplayed on the monitor screen 307B for the user 302B, and anindication to post a status update on the social networking service website displayed on the monitor screen 307B that the user 302B is watchingMovie XYZ.

When, as depicted in FIG. 3C, the user 302C captures the matrix code308C with the smart phone 301C, the smart phone 303C decodes the matrixcode 308C to obtain the information included in the matrix code 308C.The smart phone 303C then displays a prompt on a smart phone screen 303Casking the user 302C whether or not to post an update to the socialnetworking service web site displayed on the monitor screen 307C thatthe user 302C is watching Movie XYZ.

In some instances, the user 302C may not wish to share the fact that heis watching Movie XYZ with other users of the social networking serviceweb site displayed on the monitor screen 307C. For example, Movie XYZmay constitute adult entertainment and the user 302C may not wish toalert other social networking service users that he watches adultentertainment and may respond negatively to the prompt displayed on thesmart phone screen 303C utilizing input elements of the smart phone301C.

However, as illustrated in FIG. 3D, if the user 302D respondsaffirmatively to the displayed prompt, the smart phone 301D transmits aninstruction to the social networking service web site displayed on themonitor screen 307D to post a status update that the user 302D iswatching Movie XYZ. Additionally, the smart phone 301D displays amessage on the smart phone screen 303D indicating that the status of theuser 302D has been updated on the social networking service web sitedisplayed on the monitor screen 307D to indicate that the user 302D iswatching Movie XYZ.

Although FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate and describe that the informationutilized to transmit the instruction to post the status update to thesocial networking service web site is obtained by the smart phone301A-301D from the matrix code 308B-308D, it is understood that othercontemplated arrangements are possible. One of more portions of suchinformation may be obtained from a non-transitory storage medium (notshown) of the smart phone 301A-301D, from the user 302A-302D, and so on.Further, although FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate and describe that the smartphone 301A-301D decode the matrix code 308B-308D and transmit theinstruction to update the status of the user 302A-302D to the socialnetworking service web site displayed on the monitor screen 307D, it isunderstood that other contemplated arrangements are possible. The smartphone 301A-301D may transmit the captured matrix code 308B-308D to oneor more backend servers which may decode the matrix code. The smartphone 301A-301D may also communicate with the backend servers totransmit the instruction to update the status of the user 302A-302D tothe social networking service web site displayed on the monitor screen307D.

In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented assets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it isunderstood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methodsdisclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, thespecific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearrangedwhile remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanyingmethod claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order,and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product,or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program acomputer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a processaccording to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g.,software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppydiskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; and so on.

It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosedsubject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages.The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of thefollowing claims to encompass and include such changes.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments areillustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited tothem. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements arepossible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the presentdisclosure have been described in the context or particular embodiments.Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently invarious embodiments of the disclosure or described with differentterminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined inthe claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for performing social networking servicefunctions utilizing matrix codes, the method comprising: detecting, by amatrix code reader, a matrix code included in an instance of contentoutput by a content receiver, wherein the matrix code includesidentifying information and a network address of a social networkservice; obtaining, by the matrix code reader, user informationassociated with the social network service; prompting, by the matrixcode reader, for additional information in order to transmit at leastone instruction to perform at least one social network service function;and transmitting the at least one instruction to perform at least onesocial network service function, by the matrix code reader, to thesocial network service based at least on the identifying information andthe network address and when the additional information is received bythe matrix code reader.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the userinformation associated with the social network service is included inthe matrix code.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix codedetected by the matrix code reader is included in the instance ofcontent by an electronic device prior to the electronic devicetransmitting the instance of content to the display device.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the user information associated with thesocial network service is stored by the electronic device and includedin the matrix code.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the userinformation associated with the social network service is stored by thematrix code reader.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least oneinstruction to perform at least one social network service function isincluded in the matrix code.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thematrix code reader selects the at least one instruction to perform atleast one social network service function in response to detecting thatthe matrix code includes information identifying the instance ofcontent.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing atleast one of decoding the matrix code by the matrix code reader ortransmitting the matrix code from the matrix code reader to a matrixcode decoding computing device.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the atleast one instruction to perform at least one social network servicefunction comprises at least one of posting at least one status updateregarding the at least one instance of content, posting at least onecomment regarding the instance of content, scheduling at least one eventassociated with the instance of content, posting at least one review ofthe instance of content, or submitting a request to join a groupassociated with the instance of content.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising receiving by the matrix code reader the additionalinformation.
 11. A system for performing social networking servicefunctions utilizing matrix codes, comprising: at least one displaydevice that displays at least one instance of content which includes atleast one matrix code, wherein the at least one matrix code includesidentifying information and a network address of a social networkservice; and at least one matrix code reader device, comprising: atleast one optical detector that detects the at least one matrix codedisplayed with the at least one instance of content by the at least onedisplay device; at least one processing unit that obtains userinformation associated with the social network service; at least oneinput/output component that prompts for and receives additionalinformation via user-input to confirm intent to transmit to the socialnetwork service at least one instruction to perform at least one socialnetwork service function; and at least one communication component;wherein the at least one processing unit transmits the at least oneinstruction to perform at least one social network service function tothe social network service via the at least one communication component,based at least on the identifying information, the additionalinformation, and the network address of the social network service. 12.The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one electronicdevice comprising: at least one output component; and at least oneelectronic device processing unit that combines the at least one matrixcode with the at least one instance of content and transmits the atleast one instance of content including the at least one matrix code tothe at least one display device.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein theat least one electronic device further includes at least onenon-transitory storage medium that stores the user informationassociated with the social network service and the at least oneelectronic device processing unit includes the user information in theat least one matrix code.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the atleast one processing unit determines the at least one instruction by atleast one of determining that the at least one matrix code includes theat least one instruction or selecting the at least one instruction inresponse to detecting that the at least one matrix code includesinformation identifying the at least one instance of content.
 15. Thesystem of claim 11, the at least one instruction to perform at least onesocial network service function comprises at least one of posting atleast one status update regarding the at least one instance of content,posting at least one comment regarding the at least one instance ofcontent, scheduling at least one event associated with the at least oneinstance of content, posting at least one review of the at least oneinstance of content, or submitting a request to join a group associatedwith the at least one instance of content.
 16. The system of claim 11,wherein the at least one processing unit decodes the at least one matrixcode.
 17. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one matrixcode decoding computing device wherein the at least one processing unittransmits the at least one matrix code to the least one matrix codedecoding computing device via the at least one communication componentand the least one matrix code decoding computing device decodes thereceived at least one matrix code.
 18. The system of claim 11, whereinthe at least one processing unit obtains the user information associatedwith at least one social networking service from at least one of the atleast one matrix code or a non-transitory storage medium of the at leastone matrix code reader device.